Temp work is on the rise. Employing temporary workers can be highly advantageous to your business. It can boost productivity and efficiency, unburden your overworked staff, help you bring in specialized skills, help you fill temporary vacancies from sick days, vacation days, and leave, and so much more.
If you think employing temporary workers is the right move for your company, here’s a list of do’s and don’ts to get you started.
DO: Know the Difference between Great and Terrible Temp Staff
Not all temp workers are created equal. When employing temporary workers, you face the same hiring risks as with permanent, full-time workers. Hire the wrong candidate and you’ll face the consequences.
However, the qualifications to consider can differ. The qualities that make temps particularly productive are unique to their temporary position in a company.
For example, highly effective temporary workers are known to be adaptable and flexible—they need to be in order to jump from job to job. Great temps are punctual, they’re self-starters, they’re independent, and they’re quick learners—there’s no time for training. Make sure to look for these characteristics in your candidates in order to hire only top talent and avoid hiring terrible temp staff.
DO: Consider Cultural Fit
You may not think that cultural fit needs to be considered when employing temporary workers because they won’t be around long enough for it to matter. But nothing could be further from the truth.
All employees will work harder, be more productive, and be happier in your employ if they hold the same values and beliefs as your company holds and truly believe in what you do. Temps are no exception.
DO: Engage a Temporary Staffing Agency
When employing temporary workers, working with a temporary staffing agency can make the process easier than ever. There are many advantages of going through an agency. You’ll save time because its recruiters will do all the legwork. You’ll save on costs of advertising, testing, and screening because the agency will shoulder these expenses. You’ll enjoy faster hiring because the firm will already have pre-screened and pre-approved candidates for you to choose from. You’ll also save on administrative time and costs because the agency will take care of this as well.
DON’T: Wait Until the Last Minute
Whether you’re going at it alone or with the help of a staffing agency, it’s important to anticipate your staffing needs ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute to find replacements if at all possible. This will ensure that you have enough time to screen and test candidates and find the best fit for the position.
DON’T: Treat Them as Expendable
Your temporary workers might only be at your workplace for a few weeks or a few months, but that doesn’t mean that they should be treated as expendable. You should create a welcoming and positive environment, have your team take the time to introduce themselves and help the temporary workers as needed, and show your appreciation for their hard work. Your temps offer value to your company—that’s why you hire them. So treat them like the valuable employees that they are, no matter how long they’ll be there for.
DON’T: Promise a Full-Time Job You Can’t Guarantee
You might think that it’ll give you an edge in recruiting to promise a full-time job once the temporary work assignment is over. You might think that hinting at permanent work is a way to get temps to work harder.
But misrepresenting the agreement you have with temps isn’t ethical. Though many temporary workers enjoy temporary work and aren’t interested in full-time employment, some would love to be offered permanent work. And offering false promises will only cause disappointment and possibly cause you to have a bad reputation among temp workers.
Need help employing temporary workers? Contact Liberty Staffing.
